Half to john e



A. BROWN.

SUSPENDBRS.

(No Model.)

No. 312,080. Patented Feb. 10, 1885.

N. PETERS now-Lnm n hen Wlihing'om ac UNTTE STATES ATTENT Trice.

ALFRED BROWN, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN It. DOWV, OF SAME PLACE.

SUSPENDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,080, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filed October 3, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED BROWN, gentleman, of Ottawa, in the county of Carleton and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspenders, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to suspenders; and it consists in a novel construction of the same, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a pair of suspenders constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a'rear view of the same in use; Fig. 3, a side view.

The objects of my invention are to so construct the suspenders as to prevent their slipping off the shoulders, to prevent the binding of the straps upon the back when stooping or sitting, and to cause the strain to come upon that part of the body best adapted to Withstand it.

To this end the invention consists in providing a collar from which extend the two front and two rear straps, the front and rear straps on each side being provided with rings or eyes, through which are passed runners or cords provided with loops or button-holes for application to the pantaloon-buttons.

In the drawings, A indicates the collar, which is preferably of the form shown, but which may be varied somewhat both as to form and material. From collar A, near the front ends, extend the front straps, BB,while at the rear are similar straps,O 0, each of the straps being made in two parts provided with buckles a, by which their length may be varied to suit different heights of wearers. They are also provided with rings or eyes b at their ends to carry the cord or runners, as above mentioned. The straps B B are preferably continued throughout the length of the collar, as shown in Fig. 1, and meet the ends of the straps O C where attached to the collar, a suitable fastening, 0, being provided at this point in order to firmly secure the parts.

D D represent the cords or runners, which, as shown in all the figures, pass loosely through the eyes or rings b in the ends of the straps B 0, each cord being formed with a loop or button-hole, d,.at each end, and another at an in termediate point, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the arrangement being, however, common and well known.

The advantages gained by my construction are that the weight is upon that part of the body best adapted to bear it; the possibility of the straps dropping off the shoulders is prevented; the moving parts of the shoulders are relieved of all strain and weight, thus giving freedom of motion to the arms in reaching up or down; the back straps readily spread apart in stooping, and do not draw across the back; and, finally, they at no time draw the pantaloons out of shape. In suspenders as ordinarily constructed the rear straps are crossed at the middle of the back, and when leaning or stooping down they constantly draw across the back and the shoulder-blades; but in my construction this is obviated, as my rear straps do not cross or connect except at the collar,where there is no such action as that just before described.

By the use of the sliding cords D D the straps B O are caused to accommodate themselves to the position of the body when walking or sitting, and this, too, without the use of elastic webbing or its equivalent. The collar A, being quite broad, distributes such strain as there must of necessity be upon the collar of the wearer evenly, and equalizes to a great extent the action of the different straps. The collarA does not completely encircle the neck, but extends only a short distance in advance of the forward side of the shoulder on either side.

I am aware that common double strap suspenders have been connected at the back by a cross-strap at a point below the shoulders, but am not aware that such suspenders have ever been provided with a collar to pass over the shoulders and about the neck of the wearer, and adapted not only to hold the straps in proper relative positions, but also to receive anddistribute the strain or weight put upon the straps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The herein-described suspenders,consisting of collar A, two front and two rear straps, B O, and cords or runners D,loosely connecting said straps, all substantially as shown and extremities, and cords or runners D, connect- :0 described. ing said straps, provided with loops d, and 2. In a pair of suspenders, the combination passingloosely through the eyes thereofias and of two front and two rear suspending-straps I for the purpose set forth. 5 loosely connected, and a collar, A, secured to I said straps, substantially in the manner shown. ALFRED BROWN 3. In a pair of suspenders, the combination Witnesses: "of collar A, straps B 0, attached to said col- I WM. WYLD,

lar, and provided with eyes b at their lower J. A. HARKIN. 

